Gladiator ruled the theaters and the PS2 was still unreleased: What the world looked like the last time the Knicks made the ECF
It’s been a while since the Knicks made the final. Here’s how we lived back then.
In case you’ve been living under a rock the size of a big apple, you will have heard that a basketball team called the New York Knicks are into the Eastern Conference final for the first time since the Old Testament.
I joke, of course, but it is only the second time this century that the blue and orange brigade have made it all the way to the showpiece event, meaning the world is quite a different place now to what it was like back when the 1999-2000 season was underway.
Back in 2000, when the side was set to go up against the Pacers in the final - a game they lost - Tom Cruise was hanging from ropes (again) in Mission: Impossible 2, while Gladiator was number 2 in the highest-grossing films of the time. A mention for the films Dinosaur and How the Grinch Stole Christmas, two of my personal favourites which were both released in that year.
As for the tunes on our mobile ph-- CD rack, Carlos Santana had us grooving with “Maria Maria”, which held the top spot for another week while the Knicks stood just four wins from reaching the 2000 NBA Finals.
We survived the Y2K scare and ended conspiracy theories forever, and Bill Clinton visited Vietnam.
The earlier mention of mobile phones prompted me to check which device was released at the time, and it was none other than the iconic Nokia 3310. The Indestructible, The Everlasting, The GOAT - before we knew what that meant.
Kylie made a comeback and Destiny’s Child also ruled the world, while Radiohead dropped their guitars and released ‘Kid A’. Nintendo sold its 100 millionth GameBoy and the PlayStation 2 was released.
Manchester United, Arsenal and Leeds United finished in the top 3 in England’s Premier League; the Titans and the Rams went into the new century top of the NFL tree. As for the NBA, it was O’Neal’s Lakers side that ruled the roost, swatting aside the aforementioned Pacers after seeing off the Trail Blazers in the previous game.
Now it’s the turn of the Knicks once again, a team looking to go one step further than last time and hopefully kick on and keep improving. The anxiety, fear, dread and all the emotions we love about sports are present in the hearts of the fans, some of whom won’t have been around to see it the last time it was on like this.
Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.
Complete your personal details to comment
Your opinion will be published with first and last names